My Story of Falling for the Class President

Chapter 15: Dismissed as Class President (Forced Out)

Being rejected by most of my classmates really hit me hard. I've been doing my best for the class, handling chores and various tasks in my own way.

I didn't become class president because I wanted to, but I had my pride, so I worked hard, and yet here we are. With a bitter smile, I returned to the classroom.

Later that day and even the next day, for some reason, the teasing had stopped. Could it be that the rejection fest in the gymnasium was the end of it? I wondered, but then I recalled a book I read long ago about how people under pressure tend to think of convenient things for themselves, and I pondered a bit longer.

Why aren't they doing anything? Have they stopped teasing me? No way.

So why then? Are they preparing something?

If it were just insults or harassment, they'd act on it as soon as they thought of it, but they haven't, so it's not that? Does it require preparation or something big? Or do they have a reason to hold back?

I thought about it a little, but I don't get it. There's no point in overthinking, but they're probably going to do something awful, right?

Even commuting to and from school, staying on guard for ambushes is exhausting.

I'm really starting to break down.

The next day. Finally, if I can endure today, it'll be Golden Week.

That day was peaceful.

There was no teasing, and while the popular kids and Sotomachi-kun were smirking, it was just unpleasant and caused no real issues.

During break time, I talked with Kashii-san about work after GW, and though it was tough, I hoped that after Golden Week, the class atmosphere might reset and improve.

And then, at the end of homeroom, everyone was restless for Golden Week.

After the teacher finished the announcements, they spoke.

"Tachibana-kun, I've been receiving concerns from everyone, and from my perspective, there are too many issues and times when you can't bring everyone together. After listening to everyone, I've decided it's too hard for you to continue as class president, so we'll be changing the position. Thanks for your efforts so far, okay?"

I thought to myself.

(Wait, what are they even saying? I don't get it.)

It's not about whether I can continue; it's already a done deal.

I felt like I was forcibly put in this position just to have the ladder pulled out from under me.

What kind of face am I making right now? Kashii-san kept looking at me.

The popular kids were overjoyed. They were laughing hysterically and shouting things like "Agreed!"

In the classroom, I kept my head down.

Sotomachi-kun was recommended as the boys' class president and it was decided quickly.

"I'll work with everyone to make a fun class for us all! Nice working with you, Kashii-san♪"

'Sure, nice working with you, Sotomachi-kun...'

I'm not included in that "everyone." The Kashii-san I admire will now work with Sotomachi-kun as class president. Probably, probably, the teasing won't end.

Can something like this really happen? Just because GW is a good breaking point, they don't even listen to my side and unilaterally dismiss me during homeroom? I kept thinking about it.

The popular kids and Sotomachi-kun were smirking while looking at me.

Kashii-san was looking at me with concern.

Even the classmates who don't get involved were watching me with keen interest.

I can't look down, I can't cry, Me.

I raised my hand to speak to the teacher.

'...I'm sorry for not being up to the task and causing trouble for everyone. It was a good experience, thank you.'

I gave my final greeting. Smile, especially when it's tough!

Even so, I was shocked and shaken, my voice trembling. Honestly, I felt like crying.

The teacher told me to bring the file I was entrusted with when I became class president to the staff room later.

"Yo! Last duty!"

"Good job, lol!"

I got heckled, but I don't care anymore. I really don't care.

I didn't feel like going to the staff room right away, so I took a detour on the way.

In the staff room, Kashii-san was talking with the teacher. Was she protesting?

'Tachibana-kun handled their duties properly. Even with the lost submissions, after the second incident, I made a list and checked, but things still went missing, you know?'

"Besides that, there were a lot of complaints or grievances from other students. Every day, someone would come to me saying something about how Tachibana did this or that..."

'It's probably (the popular kids' names)-kun and the others, right? Or maybe (the timid classmates)-kun and them, isn't it?'

"Yeah, probably."

'The popular kids seem to have something against Tachibana-kun and are harsh on them. Even when deciding the class president, they forced Tachibana-kun into it despite their reluctance, saying they'd help, but now they're just dragging them down, you know?'

"Kashii... it's already been decided."

'Even so, it's too much... Why didn't you listen to Tachibana-kun's side of things?'

I couldn't stand to listen anymore and walked in midway.

'Kashii-san, it's fine now.'

"See! Tachibana is okay with it too, right?"

Okay with it, my foot. I didn't trust this homeroom teacher at all. Well, I guess the teacher doesn't trust me either.

I apologized to Kashii-san.

'It's really okay, sorry for the trouble I caused.'

'I'm fine, but what about you, Tachibana-kun!'

'It's really disappointing that we can't work together anymore, but I'll leave the rest to you, okay?'

'Yeah, leave it to me. And... maybe we can work together on something again someday?'

'It'd be nice if we could, right?'

I said goodbye to Kashii-san and the teacher, then skipped club activities and went home that day.

On the way home, I cried silently as I walked.

And just like that, I was fired as class president after only a month.